1. Will LeBron James Commit Long-Term?
The biggest question looming over the Los Angeles Lakers heading into the offseason is the future of LeBron James. James is eligible for an extension this offseason, but he has not indicated what direction he is leaning when it comes to that.
Trading James would seem to be out of the question as he is the only player that will keep them on track to contending next season. But, with free agency potentially looming in 2023, the Lakers will have to show James that they can put together a winning roster again.
If they cannot convince James that they can build a team to win, there is a real chance that he leaves in free agency. He has expressed an interest in finishing his career playing alongside his son, Bronny, who could be eligible for the 2024 NBA Draft.
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Teams will gear up to make a run at landing him if they know it means LeBron is coming along as well.
He also left the door open about returning to the Cavaliers for a third stint. They are an up-and-coming team in the Eastern Conference, and as Kevin Love said, it would be a storybook ending for his career, finishing out where he started, playing alongside his son.
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However, all of these hypotheticals can be avoided if the Los Angeles Lakers can sign him to an extension. That should be their No. 1 goal this offseason, as it will provide a sense of continuity knowing LeBron James is locked in for the long-term.
